Share Based Payment Award Performance Shares Valuation Assumptions (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014		Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value	$ 1,120.83		$ 935.25
Volatility	23.07%	[1]	25.72%	[1]
Correlation coefficient	0.46	[2]	0.47	[2]
Risk-free interest rate	0.91%	[3]	0.32%	[3]
Dividend yield	0.00%	[4]	0.00%	[4]	0.00%	[4]
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value					$ 798.05
Volatility					27.64%	[1]
Correlation coefficient					0.46	[2]
Risk-free interest rate					0.40%	[3]
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value					$ 2,781.91
Volatility					29.97%	[1]
Correlation coefficient					0.49	[2]
Risk-free interest rate					0.63%	[3]
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation | PSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value	$ 15.21		$ 8.71
Volatility	49.85%	[1]	49.28%	[1]
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation | PSUs | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value					$ 3.57
Volatility					51.43%	[1]
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation | PSUs | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Grant date fair market value					$ 7.98
Volatility					67.67%	[1]

[1] Expected volatility is calculated over the most recent period that represents the remaining term of the performance period as of the valuation date, or three years.

[2] The correlation coefficient utilizes the same historical price data used to develop the volatility assumptions.

[3] The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill, commensurate with the three-year performance period.

[4] We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.